HOLDREGE (SNR) – The annual “Blaze Banquet” to benefit All Saints School in Holdrege will be held Oct. 28 at the Holdrege City Auditorium.
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction. A live auction and dinner start at 7 p.m. along with entertainment. Tickets are $60 per person and may be purchased online at ascp.home.qtego.net. All proceeds fund All Saints School.
The Blaze fundraiser is in its 21st year, supporting the needs of the school, which plays an integral role in helping to form the faith of the children who attend All Saints.
Father Jay Buhman, pastor of All Saints, explained the role of the school.
“After His Resurrection, and right before He ascended to the Father, Jesus instructed His apostles to go and make disciples. The mission of our parish, and the mission for parents, is to do just that.
“All Saints Catholic School plays such an integral role in helping our parents and our parish to make disciples,” he continued. “Discipleship involves integrating the life of faith into every aspect of our lives. Our school has the ability to model that discipleship relationship throughout every aspect of the school day. In every subject that is taught, and in every activity of the day, Jesus Christ can be proclaimed. What a gift that is!”
Parent and parishioner Becky Deaver agreed.
“We are so thankful to have the support of All Saints School in helping our children encounter Jesus and raise them to become disciples of our Lord,” she said.
Blaze includes a sit-down dinner, live and silent auctions, a raffle, and musical entertainment from “Fun Pianos.”
Parishioner Diane Ostgren said she and her husband Dennis enjoy going to the Blaze banquet each year “to strengthen our relationship with our parish family and to support our young children at ASCS.”
The Holdrege City Auditorium will be transformed with black and white décor, along with splashes of red accents to create a classy ambiance. New York strip will be the centerpiece of the meal catered by HA Catering, by Heidi Amelang.
Prizes for the live and silent auctions have been gathered from nearly 150 local businesses and range from gift baskets to big-ticket items. Ron Pfeifer will auctioneer the live auction. Individuals may register online at ascp.home.qtego.net to start bidding Oct. 23.
A drawing will take place to select one raffle prize winner of the $500 cash prize from Bruce Furniture and one winner of the $1,000 cash prize from DeWald Deaver L’Heureux Law Firm.
All Saints School began in 2001 and includes 61 students in grades K-4. One of the beneficial aspects of All Saints is its low student-to-teacher ratio, giving the teacher ample time to differentiate instruction for each unique child.
“I fully believe All Saints prepared me for high school and beyond,” said former student Cassidy Newth, now a senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I feel like I knew so much about my faith after my experience and time at All Saints…. As a future teacher myself, I know my teachers at All Saints didn’t just give me an amazing education, but they taught me love, respect, and a sense of belonging.”
The school emphasizes growing a child’s capacity for learning while developing the whole person—spiritually, intellectually, culturally, physically, and socially.
“I like my school because we get to have Mass in the morning and spend time with Jesus in adoration on Wednesday,” said third-grader Claire Neville. “We also get to have Father Buhman come into our classrooms and teach us about Jesus.”
Events like the Blaze Banquet are essential in helping fund the school. Additional details are available on the Blaze Facebook page at facebook.com/blazebanquet, or those interested may contact the office at 308-995-4590.
All Saints is also participating in the Phelps County Community Foundation’s 11th annual Give2Grow Nov. 17, designed to raise vital funds for nonprofits. Donations can be made online at the website give2growphelps.org or donors may mail or deliver their donations to the Phelps County Community Foundation (PCCF) with All Saints Catholic School designated in the memo line or with a note.
Chelsey Neville contributed to this story.
